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Il fiore dell'estasi
Isabella ha conosciuto l'estasi d'amore, e le pene che a essa si accompagnano.Orfana, protetta dal futuro re Riccardo III, è con lui che per riconoscenza sischiera nella cruenta guerra che strazia l'Inghilterra. Ma l'affascinante etenebroso marito marito che le hanno imposto, e che lei sembra incapace di amare,combatte per la fazione avversa.
430 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
12 people are currently reading
788 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Brandewyne
61 books175 followersBorn in Knoxville, Tennessee, Rebecca lived in Knoxville and then, later, Chattanooga for the first few years of her life. After that, she and her family moved to Kansas, where she grew up, spending her summers in Alabama, visiting both sets of her grandparents. She says she's just a country girl with a dash of big city sprinkled in for spice. But having traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and the Caribbean, she moves easily between the publishing world of New York and her hometown.
Rebecca graduated cum laude with departmental honors from Wichita State University, earning a B.A. in journalism, minors in history and music (theory and composition), and an M.A. in communications [mass (broadcasting) and interpersonal (dyadic relationships):]. During the course of her education, she was fortunate enough to study at various times under, among several other distinguished instructors, three Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists and one of the foremost authorities in the field of interpersonal communication. Twice a recipient of the Victor Murdock Scholarship, Rebecca taught interpersonal communication at the university level before becoming a published writer.
She was twenty-one when she started work on her first novel, No Gentle Love. She finished the book a year later and sold it to Warner Books some months after her twenty-third birthday, making her, at that time, the youngest romance author in America, a record that stood for ten years before finally being broken. To date, Rebecca has written over thirty consecutive bestselling titles, including novels and novellas on the following lists: New York Times, Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Magazine & Bookseller, Ingram, B. Dalton, and Waldenbooks, among many others.
Her books have been translated into a number of foreign languages, including Chinese, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Rumanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish; and they have been published in over sixty countries worldwide. Many have been selections of the Doubleday Book Club and Literary Guild. Hardback editions of several titles have been published by Severn House, and large-print editions of some books are also available from Macmillan Library Reference and Thorndike Press. Rebecca currently has millions of books in print in the United States alone.
From Affaire de Coeur magazine, she has won: the Classic Award for Classic Romances, for Love, Cherish Me, 1990; the Golden Quill Award for Best of the '80s Historical Romances, for Love, Cherish Me, 1990; the Bronze Pen (Wholesalers' Choice) Award, 1989; the Silver Pen (Readers' Choice) Award, 1988, 1987, and 1986; and a Gold Certificate for The Outlaw Hearts, 1987.
From Romantic Times magazine, she has won: the Reviewer's Choice Nominee for Best Historical Romantic Mystery, for The Ninefold Key, 2004; the Reviewer's Choice Certificate of Excellence for Victorian Historical Romance, for The Jacaranda Tree, 1995; the KISS (Knight in Shining Silver) of the Month for Best Hero, for The Jacaranda Tree, 1995, and for Swan Road, 1994; the Career Achievement Award for Futuristic Romance, 1991, for Passion Moon Rising and Beyond the Starlit Frost; the Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Historical Gothic, for Across a Starlit Sea, 1989, and for Upon a Moon-Dark Moor, 1988; the Historical Romance Novelist of the Year Award, 1987; and the Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Western Romance, for The Outlaw Hearts, 1986. Rebecca has also been named one of Love's Leading Ladies and inducted into Romantic Times magazine's Hall of Fame.
http://www.brandewyne.com/castle/gall...
Rebecca graduated cum laude with departmental honors from Wichita State University, earning a B.A. in journalism, minors in history and music (theory and composition), and an M.A. in communications [mass (broadcasting) and interpersonal (dyadic relationships):]. During the course of her education, she was fortunate enough to study at various times under, among several other distinguished instructors, three Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists and one of the foremost authorities in the field of interpersonal communication. Twice a recipient of the Victor Murdock Scholarship, Rebecca taught interpersonal communication at the university level before becoming a published writer.
She was twenty-one when she started work on her first novel, No Gentle Love. She finished the book a year later and sold it to Warner Books some months after her twenty-third birthday, making her, at that time, the youngest romance author in America, a record that stood for ten years before finally being broken. To date, Rebecca has written over thirty consecutive bestselling titles, including novels and novellas on the following lists: New York Times, Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Magazine & Bookseller, Ingram, B. Dalton, and Waldenbooks, among many others.
Her books have been translated into a number of foreign languages, including Chinese, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Rumanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish; and they have been published in over sixty countries worldwide. Many have been selections of the Doubleday Book Club and Literary Guild. Hardback editions of several titles have been published by Severn House, and large-print editions of some books are also available from Macmillan Library Reference and Thorndike Press. Rebecca currently has millions of books in print in the United States alone.
From Affaire de Coeur magazine, she has won: the Classic Award for Classic Romances, for Love, Cherish Me, 1990; the Golden Quill Award for Best of the '80s Historical Romances, for Love, Cherish Me, 1990; the Bronze Pen (Wholesalers' Choice) Award, 1989; the Silver Pen (Readers' Choice) Award, 1988, 1987, and 1986; and a Gold Certificate for The Outlaw Hearts, 1987.
From Romantic Times magazine, she has won: the Reviewer's Choice Nominee for Best Historical Romantic Mystery, for The Ninefold Key, 2004; the Reviewer's Choice Certificate of Excellence for Victorian Historical Romance, for The Jacaranda Tree, 1995; the KISS (Knight in Shining Silver) of the Month for Best Hero, for The Jacaranda Tree, 1995, and for Swan Road, 1994; the Career Achievement Award for Futuristic Romance, 1991, for Passion Moon Rising and Beyond the Starlit Frost; the Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Historical Gothic, for Across a Starlit Sea, 1989, and for Upon a Moon-Dark Moor, 1988; the Historical Romance Novelist of the Year Award, 1987; and the Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Western Romance, for The Outlaw Hearts, 1986. Rebecca has also been named one of Love's Leading Ladies and inducted into Romantic Times magazine's Hall of Fame.
http://www.brandewyne.com/castle/gall...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
April 14, 2021
I loved it! I was expecting a cheap bodice-ripper and instead I got a good, intriguing love story/bodice-ripper. I will definitely be reading more from this author!
August 11, 2023
A medieval bodice ripper with loltastic purple prose but wildly entertaining anyway.
June 22, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars
A very well-researched historical romance, a rarity.
I liked that the characters were quite well rounded. Usually, especially with the heroine, a character has one big trait that is almost all the character is. Isabella is definitely more than just a beauty. She loves animals, she is loyal, she is caring, etc.
It was a pretty long and dense book, not exactly in pages, but in plot. A lot happens, so if you want a relaxing book to read by the pool or something, this may not be for you.
All in all, a very good old school historical fiction!
A very well-researched historical romance, a rarity.
I liked that the characters were quite well rounded. Usually, especially with the heroine, a character has one big trait that is almost all the character is. Isabella is definitely more than just a beauty. She loves animals, she is loyal, she is caring, etc.
It was a pretty long and dense book, not exactly in pages, but in plot. A lot happens, so if you want a relaxing book to read by the pool or something, this may not be for you.
All in all, a very good old school historical fiction!
October 12, 2017
Superb Medieval Romance Steeped in War of the Roses History
I knew this story, set in the 15th century, was going to make me cry when at the beginning Isabella, age 25, is saying goodbye to the ghosts that haunt her...all those who died in what would become known as the War of the Roses...all those she loved. And then we are sent back 20 years to where it began, when she was just a young child raised among the nobility.
With the death of her parents, she became the mistress of Rushden Castle. She and her treasured brother Giles, who is only a bit older than she and now Lord of Rushden, will have a "warden" appointed by the king to see to the young children's needs. But King Edward IV does not give them a kind man and so their youth is a hard one. Isabella's only solace is in her menagerie in the stables where she cares for and heals hurt animals.
The novel is divided into five "books": Against the Summer Sky, The Rose of Rapture, The Windswept Moors, Tears and Lonely Sojourn. Book one begins in 1490, then we're back to 1470, then back to 1453 as we experience the beginning of Warrick ap Tremayne, a half Welsh bastard of an English lord who grows up at his father's castle, Hawkhurst, to be a favored knight of Edward. When their first warden dies, the king makes Warrick the new warden of Rushden, and though he has no desire to marry, betroths him to Isabella, now 15. But she loves another...
This tale is rich in the history of the time, so much so that at times I had trouble holding all the names in my head as Brandyewyne weaves a complex tale of deception, intrigue, mystery and betrayal. The lives of all are influenced by the battle for the English throne that takes on the appearance of a game of musical chairs before it's done.
I'll warn you the ending is bittersweet, but it's a great love story...a well told tale of two worthy characters living in a tumultuous time. I highly recommend it.
I knew this story, set in the 15th century, was going to make me cry when at the beginning Isabella, age 25, is saying goodbye to the ghosts that haunt her...all those who died in what would become known as the War of the Roses...all those she loved. And then we are sent back 20 years to where it began, when she was just a young child raised among the nobility.
With the death of her parents, she became the mistress of Rushden Castle. She and her treasured brother Giles, who is only a bit older than she and now Lord of Rushden, will have a "warden" appointed by the king to see to the young children's needs. But King Edward IV does not give them a kind man and so their youth is a hard one. Isabella's only solace is in her menagerie in the stables where she cares for and heals hurt animals.
The novel is divided into five "books": Against the Summer Sky, The Rose of Rapture, The Windswept Moors, Tears and Lonely Sojourn. Book one begins in 1490, then we're back to 1470, then back to 1453 as we experience the beginning of Warrick ap Tremayne, a half Welsh bastard of an English lord who grows up at his father's castle, Hawkhurst, to be a favored knight of Edward. When their first warden dies, the king makes Warrick the new warden of Rushden, and though he has no desire to marry, betroths him to Isabella, now 15. But she loves another...
This tale is rich in the history of the time, so much so that at times I had trouble holding all the names in my head as Brandyewyne weaves a complex tale of deception, intrigue, mystery and betrayal. The lives of all are influenced by the battle for the English throne that takes on the appearance of a game of musical chairs before it's done.
I'll warn you the ending is bittersweet, but it's a great love story...a well told tale of two worthy characters living in a tumultuous time. I highly recommend it.
October 10, 2015
13:00 - I found the sex scene between Lionel and Isabella in the first part so distasteful.Personally, I do not like to read a heroine made love with some other man in story.especially before hero. It's kinda unfair :)
17:00 - Ugh!the ultra sugary idiot heroine- I'll be bald through pulling my hair out.
17:23 - The middle of the book is very bored.
I am on chapter 23.Heroine still loves OM!Ugh!
There definitely should have been love for the main characters by now.
18:15 -still bored
Chapter 25 and I am done.a DNF.
The characters are like a cardboard cutouts. The conversations are lacking and not as much character depth-development .only liked warrick's mother.it is very good "history book". if you remove the historical content you can see that The romance part is poorly written. I have read many books by Rebecca Brandewyne .My fav is Love, Cherish Me.
17:00 - Ugh!the ultra sugary idiot heroine- I'll be bald through pulling my hair out.
17:23 - The middle of the book is very bored.
I am on chapter 23.Heroine still loves OM!Ugh!
There definitely should have been love for the main characters by now.
18:15 -still bored
Chapter 25 and I am done.a DNF.
The characters are like a cardboard cutouts. The conversations are lacking and not as much character depth-development .only liked warrick's mother.it is very good "history book". if you remove the historical content you can see that The romance part is poorly written. I have read many books by Rebecca Brandewyne .My fav is Love, Cherish Me.
May 14, 2023
This is an historical romance in which Lady Isabella Ashley finds true lust—er— love with Lord Hawkhurst. We first encounter Isabella and her brother Giles as children who have just been orphaned when both their parents succumbed to the sweating sickness. They are left with Rushden, a rich estate somewhere in the north of England, and King Edward IV has appointed an unscrupulous man, Lord Oadby, as warden of Rudhden. Isabella and Giles live almost as paupers while Oadby and his cruel mistress live lavishly as a result of their embezzlement from the estate. Years later, Richard of Gloucester comes to Rushden to take Giles with him for his knightly training. Richard is shrewd and guesses what Oadby has been up to. By saying that Isabella is one of his wife Anne’s favorite maids (they have never met) and telling her to write Anne, Richard drops the not too subtle hint that he will be keeping an eye on Rushden. The Ashley family always been staunch Yorkists, with this visit Isabella’s respect and admiration for Richard is firmly established. While things change for the better somewhat for Isabella, she has also lost her beloved brother. Being a kind-hearted girl, she takes to caring for injured creatures, developing quite a menagerie. She is also loved by the staff and nearby villagers, and is a competent chatelaine.
A few years later Richard makes a return visit on his way back home from London. He allows Giles and the latter’s friend Lionel to stay a few days at Rushden. Isabella instantly falls in love with Lionel who is a blond Adonis. Lionel says he loves Isabella, but forgets to tell her he is betrothed to another. Their tryst is interrupted, but Oadby has spied them and being the dirty lecher he is, decides to rape Isabella. He falls from a loft instead, and Isabella, Giles, and Lionel carry out a scheme to portray the death as a hunting accident. The latter two then go off to rejoin Richard.
Enter Warwick (Waerwick) ap Tremayne, Earl of Hawkhurst, half-Welsh bastard son of Lord James Tremayne. Because his father has no other children, he is able to inherit the earldom. He isn’t interested in the estate, but joins Edward IV’s court and becomes one of the king’s favorites. When Oadby dies, Edward taps him to become the new warden of Rushden with the proviso that he wed Isabella. He has been betrayed by a woman and doesn’t want to marry Isabella or any woman. Of course, Isabella doesn’t want to marry him because she thinks she is in love with Lionel. Thus, we have the formula for a typical romance novel: the darkly handsome, lean and muscular hero whose broken and cynical soul can only be healed by the love of our incredibly beautiful and perfect heroine. So beautiful is Isabella, the Rose of Rapture, that almost every man who meets her must have her. I lost count of the times she escaped being raped. Well, she and Hawkhurst do marry and a lot of long, graphic sex scenes ensue. I mean a lot and I mean very long—like pages. They got rather tedious to read so I started skimming them. Of course, the couple do start to love each other, but Hawkhurst is incredibly jealous and there are several instances (I forget how many; two? three?) in which he catches Isabella in a compromising position with Lionel but without hearing her protests that she loves her husband. (Lionel turns out to be worse than a cad, a heartless wife beater.).
The plot in the last third of the book does start to get interesting and another baddie, an Italian count with a vendetta against Hawkhurst is introduced. Hawhurst had acted honorably to try to protect Giles who was the object of the count’s desires. After Edward dies, Richard takes the throne, becoming Isabella’s beloved king , and she becomes Queen Anne’s confidante. Hawhurst, however, felt bound by his oath to Edward but not to the Woodvilles nor apparently to Richard. He felt the call of his Welsh roots and becameTudor’s supporter. (Interestingly, he has a conversation with Tudor in which both express their belief that Richard would not have had his nephews murdered.) Richard and Anne are positively portrayed but they are very minor characters. I liked the character of Hawkhurst’s half brother Caerllyel and how his fate mirrored that of Isabella’s brother Giles. Yes, this is a bodice-ripper and too long, but it did have some good elements.
A few years later Richard makes a return visit on his way back home from London. He allows Giles and the latter’s friend Lionel to stay a few days at Rushden. Isabella instantly falls in love with Lionel who is a blond Adonis. Lionel says he loves Isabella, but forgets to tell her he is betrothed to another. Their tryst is interrupted, but Oadby has spied them and being the dirty lecher he is, decides to rape Isabella. He falls from a loft instead, and Isabella, Giles, and Lionel carry out a scheme to portray the death as a hunting accident. The latter two then go off to rejoin Richard.
Enter Warwick (Waerwick) ap Tremayne, Earl of Hawkhurst, half-Welsh bastard son of Lord James Tremayne. Because his father has no other children, he is able to inherit the earldom. He isn’t interested in the estate, but joins Edward IV’s court and becomes one of the king’s favorites. When Oadby dies, Edward taps him to become the new warden of Rushden with the proviso that he wed Isabella. He has been betrayed by a woman and doesn’t want to marry Isabella or any woman. Of course, Isabella doesn’t want to marry him because she thinks she is in love with Lionel. Thus, we have the formula for a typical romance novel: the darkly handsome, lean and muscular hero whose broken and cynical soul can only be healed by the love of our incredibly beautiful and perfect heroine. So beautiful is Isabella, the Rose of Rapture, that almost every man who meets her must have her. I lost count of the times she escaped being raped. Well, she and Hawkhurst do marry and a lot of long, graphic sex scenes ensue. I mean a lot and I mean very long—like pages. They got rather tedious to read so I started skimming them. Of course, the couple do start to love each other, but Hawkhurst is incredibly jealous and there are several instances (I forget how many; two? three?) in which he catches Isabella in a compromising position with Lionel but without hearing her protests that she loves her husband. (Lionel turns out to be worse than a cad, a heartless wife beater.).
The plot in the last third of the book does start to get interesting and another baddie, an Italian count with a vendetta against Hawkhurst is introduced. Hawhurst had acted honorably to try to protect Giles who was the object of the count’s desires. After Edward dies, Richard takes the throne, becoming Isabella’s beloved king , and she becomes Queen Anne’s confidante. Hawhurst, however, felt bound by his oath to Edward but not to the Woodvilles nor apparently to Richard. He felt the call of his Welsh roots and becameTudor’s supporter. (Interestingly, he has a conversation with Tudor in which both express their belief that Richard would not have had his nephews murdered.) Richard and Anne are positively portrayed but they are very minor characters. I liked the character of Hawkhurst’s half brother Caerllyel and how his fate mirrored that of Isabella’s brother Giles. Yes, this is a bodice-ripper and too long, but it did have some good elements.
June 29, 2018
The description doesn't do this book justice. While there are quite a few X-rated portions this is no fluff piece. Well researched & so rich in detail I fell into the life of the main character, laughing and crying right along with her. I'm thrilled that the author took a highly despised historical figure(King Richard III) and brought light to a lesser known but (in my opinion) more probable history of the war of the roses & King Richard himself. Aside from Isabella he was(and remains)a favoured character. Even though this novel is heavy in history, each character has depth & the writing conveys every emotion. Bittersweet is a perfect word to describe this novel. After 5yrs. & as many readings Rose of Rapture is still one of my favorite historical romances. I recommend to any readers of books like The Outlander etc.-
January 7, 2015
Definitely a favourite 5-star read! This is by far one of the most heart-breaking historical romance novels I've ever read or came upon. This is also my very first time reading Brandewyne and I am captivated by her skillful writing and her ability to make her characters come to life. Rose of Rapture is one fast-paced, addictive page-turner that compels you to forget the present and even forget who and where you are. I felt like I was lost in time while reading this!
**SPOILER**
I know it will probably seem strange for me to admit this, but how heart-broken and upset I was when Isabella's first love, Lionel Valereux, died for her while fighting her husband in a sword match. That scene alone was worth 5 stars. Even though Lionel was sort of a semi-villain with his obsession of Isabella, I couldn't help but feel melancholy at his death.
**SPOILER**
I know it will probably seem strange for me to admit this, but how heart-broken and upset I was when Isabella's first love, Lionel Valereux, died for her while fighting her husband in a sword match. That scene alone was worth 5 stars. Even though Lionel was sort of a semi-villain with his obsession of Isabella, I couldn't help but feel melancholy at his death.
September 6, 2016
halfway through the book, i got very bored! it contained too many plots involving a lot of secondary characters, navigating around politics instead of focusing on the romance side. dats what bothered me! else i wud have given a higher rating! warrick did not rape isabella. he gave her the necessary time to get used to him. she was a lovely person, warm and generous. it broke my heart when she lost her baby and when her brother died. she had been through so much already! she did not deserve dat on top of all dat! it was pretty disgusting as it is dat she had only 14 years old when she 1st met warrick and how he lusted after her! i did not count but she was still around dat age or maybe 15 when they got married. really to discover sex and married life at dat age, she was only a kid! she suffered her miscarriage at 17 only. i felt bad for her, all the facts are quite dreadful when u look at it outside of the story plot! warrick's love somewhat compensated as he loved her to bits!to the end of the world! it was obvious for everyone but took sometime for warrick himself to realise it.
May 12, 2023
Rose of Rapture is a bodice ripper, make no mistake about this. With all the cliches of the genre, namely a super beautiful protagonist whom no man can fail to desire (she escaped rape so many times that I gave up counting them), a male protagonist who in the beginning is broken, cynic and a woman hater and ens up loving our perfect heroine, a lot of sex scenes used primarly to heal things in the couple (no talking, no self analysys, just sex... very graphic sex). Some things seem too improbable for a medieval setting, but I loved the descriptions and the writing was flowing. Richard III and his wife Anne are secondary charachters but very positively drawn and I really liked their depiction.
April 22, 2018
A SOLID 4.5 STARS!
THIS STORY WAS ASTOUNDINGLY ENRICHING IN HISTORICAL FACTS, APART FROM ITS WHIRLWIND AND PASSIONATE ROMANCE FILLED WITH POLITICS.
OUR HERO was ordered by his King to wed a woman he doesn't want. Except, while he started off being mean to her, he's still a man who is not unaffected by her wood sprite beauty. Having been burnt once by a bitch he loved, his distrust for women runs so deep he makes several blunders with his wife, jumping to the wrong conclusions everytime a man is near. He turns into a jealous beast at the mention of her old beau. Warwick is the type of persona who appears cold and uncaring but in actual fact he's like a boy yearning for love. In fact, not once did he treat our heroine badly, he cares for, provides for and makes love to her passionately as often as he can. He's the type of hero you will adore in a HR like this because he's powerful, strong and very protective and possessive of what and who he considers is under his protection.
OUR HEROINE started off as a young child of 13 going on 14 when she was startled to know the King has decreed she wed his best warrior. Of course she is terribly opposed to it because she is in love with another - a dolt who was already engaged to another but didnt love her enough to divulge the truth. Isabelle did fight back but I'm only relieved she wasn't such a bitch and relented quickly into loving her husband. After that moment, she's a fiercely devoted wife who aims to please Warwick and win his love. The rest was a blur of politics centering around King Edward and King Richard.
OVERALL this was a captivating story that wasn't shallow or a quick read. In fact, its brimming with emotions and lots of historical ramifications of the 1400s.
THIS STORY WAS ASTOUNDINGLY ENRICHING IN HISTORICAL FACTS, APART FROM ITS WHIRLWIND AND PASSIONATE ROMANCE FILLED WITH POLITICS.
OUR HERO was ordered by his King to wed a woman he doesn't want. Except, while he started off being mean to her, he's still a man who is not unaffected by her wood sprite beauty. Having been burnt once by a bitch he loved, his distrust for women runs so deep he makes several blunders with his wife, jumping to the wrong conclusions everytime a man is near. He turns into a jealous beast at the mention of her old beau. Warwick is the type of persona who appears cold and uncaring but in actual fact he's like a boy yearning for love. In fact, not once did he treat our heroine badly, he cares for, provides for and makes love to her passionately as often as he can. He's the type of hero you will adore in a HR like this because he's powerful, strong and very protective and possessive of what and who he considers is under his protection.
OUR HEROINE started off as a young child of 13 going on 14 when she was startled to know the King has decreed she wed his best warrior. Of course she is terribly opposed to it because she is in love with another - a dolt who was already engaged to another but didnt love her enough to divulge the truth. Isabelle did fight back but I'm only relieved she wasn't such a bitch and relented quickly into loving her husband. After that moment, she's a fiercely devoted wife who aims to please Warwick and win his love. The rest was a blur of politics centering around King Edward and King Richard.
OVERALL this was a captivating story that wasn't shallow or a quick read. In fact, its brimming with emotions and lots of historical ramifications of the 1400s.
February 9, 2011
What is the death toll in this book? It really didn't leave me feeling very well at all. If they didn't die they were abused. This book has it's romance and funny moments. I did love the characters in it...thus why it's really difficult when most of them die in the end. Not the bad guys, of course they deserved to die. She may have got her true love in the end, but it sure was at a high price.
December 8, 2013
I'm not a fan normally of romance, I generally avoid it in any genre. I read this at a friends house I was staying at years ago, and was suprised at how much I really loved it. Recently I sawit at a thrift store and picked it up again and it's just as good now a it was then, it also remains the only romance book I've ever really enjoyed. Its not the most well written book, or the most plot driven, yet it has a certain charm. It just comes together right, and really stands out.
June 5, 2022
L'ho trovato estremamente noioso, non a causa dei tanti riferimenti e personaggi storici, che al contrario mi sono sembrati il punto di forza del romanzo, ma proprio per lo stile di scrittura (dialoghi in primis) terribilmente piatto e monotono (non parliamo dei personaggi, tagliati con l'accetta). Il plot, sicuramente interessante, avrebbe meritato una penna più "vivace".
October 25, 2013
The story captivated me but the sex scenes were so overdone. It started getting annoying reading a five-page description of how earthshattering the lovemaking was between Warrick and Isabelle EVERY single time!
February 12, 2008
my first romance novel ever read, stolen from my mom in 7th grade while home for days with acute bronchitis.
Read
March 6, 2011Was ok
September 19, 2017
4.5 Stars
Definitely read this if you want a great romance set in a real historical setting.
The history was heavy and realistic, which I loved. It really brought me into Isabella's world, I felt like I was getting a glimpse of noble life was like in the late 1400s. The romance was solid and believable but just a tiny bit melodramatic at times. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing for romance. Both of the leads are likable but not the overly perfect or unrealistic "modern mindset" characters that are often dropped into historical romances.
There was a lot going on in the plot, but the drama never dragged out....it was really well done. I don't even like drama but this book was riveting. The pacing was great. The secondary characters were amazing. All of them so well fleshed out, they seemed like real people to me. It's obvious the author took her time creating this world.
Certain things in the romance became too repetitive which is why I'm not giving it a full 5 stars.
::::Spoilers::::
From the first chapter, you know that Isabella is grieving for a good number of her family, friends, and peers who died during a civil war. She still has a happily ever after with Warrick though and because this is a romance novel, I thought that would be enough. I was really wrong!! I fell in love with all the characters that died and the pain they all go through near the end of the novel was hard to read even though I was expecting it. It was really hard. The author definitely did not shy away from the violence and horror of that time period. At one point, I was like will her suffering never end?? And then it got even worse. Normally I don't like reading that kind of stuff, but this was really masterfully done. After the melancholy prologue chapter, we see Isabella suffer a difficult childhood, then slowly build her life and marriage up to extreme highs, and finally we are brought down again to extreme lows. What saves this from being a tragedy is that Isabella and her husband are able to survive everything because of the relationship they built in the good days and that's what lets them finally move on. It's a very nice and deep message from a flowery romance novel and it's not as mushy gushy as it sounds if you read through their entire journey.
Definitely read this if you want a great romance set in a real historical setting.
The history was heavy and realistic, which I loved. It really brought me into Isabella's world, I felt like I was getting a glimpse of noble life was like in the late 1400s. The romance was solid and believable but just a tiny bit melodramatic at times. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing for romance. Both of the leads are likable but not the overly perfect or unrealistic "modern mindset" characters that are often dropped into historical romances.
There was a lot going on in the plot, but the drama never dragged out....it was really well done. I don't even like drama but this book was riveting. The pacing was great. The secondary characters were amazing. All of them so well fleshed out, they seemed like real people to me. It's obvious the author took her time creating this world.
Certain things in the romance became too repetitive which is why I'm not giving it a full 5 stars.
::::Spoilers::::
From the first chapter, you know that Isabella is grieving for a good number of her family, friends, and peers who died during a civil war. She still has a happily ever after with Warrick though and because this is a romance novel, I thought that would be enough. I was really wrong!! I fell in love with all the characters that died and the pain they all go through near the end of the novel was hard to read even though I was expecting it. It was really hard. The author definitely did not shy away from the violence and horror of that time period. At one point, I was like will her suffering never end?? And then it got even worse. Normally I don't like reading that kind of stuff, but this was really masterfully done. After the melancholy prologue chapter, we see Isabella suffer a difficult childhood, then slowly build her life and marriage up to extreme highs, and finally we are brought down again to extreme lows. What saves this from being a tragedy is that Isabella and her husband are able to survive everything because of the relationship they built in the good days and that's what lets them finally move on. It's a very nice and deep message from a flowery romance novel and it's not as mushy gushy as it sounds if you read through their entire journey.
August 21, 2022
I'll have to say, I liked this book and most of the reason was for the historical background, which included the War of the Roses, King Richard lll and his wife Anne, Henry Tudor, the princes in the Tower, all part of history that I've been reading about lately and have a real interest in. As far as the H and h, they were okay, but both Warwick and Isabella could be very annoying at times.
Too much time was wasted having them angry at each other and blaming the other for what wasn't their fault. Warwick wrongly suspects Isabella of infidelity with her former suitor, Lionel, while Isabella blames Warwick unjustly of being responsible for her brother Giles's death. That causes a separation of nearly two years, a ridiculous waste of time!
The trouble is, instead of talking, the couple spends their time making love, which would be great, if they straightened out their differences first. Instead, once their passion's spent (for the moment), the same old misunderstandings remain.
There's also a part toward the end that I thought was uncalled for, where a demented Italian count makes a drug addict out of Isabella, why was that even necessary?
I'll have to add that the Ms. Brandewyne was biased in favor of Richard, making him out to be a hero, and others (like Henry Tudor) villains. While I believe a lot of stuff said about Richard was exaggerated to put him in a bad light, I still feel that he was the most logical choice for the murder of the princes and find it hard to believe that Henry would marry Elizabeth, if he had been guilty in the death of her two brothers. But maybe I'm biased in favor of Henry?
Anyway, this isn't a bad book, but it's far from a great one. If you read it, I wouldn't call it a time waster, but if you skip it, you'll survive.
Too much time was wasted having them angry at each other and blaming the other for what wasn't their fault. Warwick wrongly suspects Isabella of infidelity with her former suitor, Lionel, while Isabella blames Warwick unjustly of being responsible for her brother Giles's death. That causes a separation of nearly two years, a ridiculous waste of time!
The trouble is, instead of talking, the couple spends their time making love, which would be great, if they straightened out their differences first. Instead, once their passion's spent (for the moment), the same old misunderstandings remain.
There's also a part toward the end that I thought was uncalled for, where a demented Italian count makes a drug addict out of Isabella, why was that even necessary?
I'll have to add that the Ms. Brandewyne was biased in favor of Richard, making him out to be a hero, and others (like Henry Tudor) villains. While I believe a lot of stuff said about Richard was exaggerated to put him in a bad light, I still feel that he was the most logical choice for the murder of the princes and find it hard to believe that Henry would marry Elizabeth, if he had been guilty in the death of her two brothers. But maybe I'm biased in favor of Henry?
Anyway, this isn't a bad book, but it's far from a great one. If you read it, I wouldn't call it a time waster, but if you skip it, you'll survive.
September 9, 2020
"Rose of Rapture" dives into the the turbulent final years of the Wars of the Roses, telling the story of Isabella Ashley, whose arranged marriage to the half-Welsh Warrick ap Tremaine plays out against the bloody machinations that lead to the reign of Richard III and the rise of the future Henry VII. Brandywine is clearly on Richard III's side, whom she paints in a very flattering light. The mention of history is the issue with "Rose of Rapture," a rare 1980s historical romance in which the history threatens to overwhelm the romance. Brandywine has to synthesize large chunks of Yorkist vs. Lancastrian politics--and shifting titles--into understandable chunks, which aren't always done gracefully. Furthermore, by the third part of the book, she's ruthlessly compressing years into short chapters, pushing the characters along to align with historical occurrences, after an extended first half. It's a relief to the reader that Brandywine's characters are less annoying than in her earlier books: Isabella is naive at times, but not stupid; Warrick has been hurt in love but is not sadistic--and there is no rape here, which marks a huge change in Brandywine's evolution. Nevertheless, because of the almost sacrificing of narrative to historical moments and the rather brisk conclusion--including an offhand mention of a fairly momentous plot point that is tidily resolved in about four pages--the novel doesn't totally work. However, it does show a steady confidence and push forward from the author's earlier, entertaining yet problematic works.
October 9, 2020
I don’t know why this book is highly rated. The writing is not bad it’s just that the story is over the top that it seems like you’re reading a Telenovela. I loved the Lancaster and York history touch to this book, but the story about the hero and heroine is just too dramatized to the point that it’s become so stupid. Towards the end of the book, both the H and h have become so dumb. I also don’t like how romance novels such as this type depicts sex as the turning point for the protagonists to realize their love for each other. One moment, either the hero or heroine gets so angry at the other but the moment one of them kisses the other, the anger dissipates and then things become oh so sexy and passionate.*eyeroll* Conflicts are not resolved by sex! The characterization of the protagonists are also inconsistent. Take for example the hero. When he learns the truth about the murderer of the heroine’s brother, he doesn’t do anything about it. As in nothing! Nothing! It’s uncharacteristic of him. He’s supposed to be cunning and intelligent. He’s even likened to a hawk! He knows the game of politics and he’s also a great swordsman and a warrior. But somehow he doesn’t do anything to make the murderer answer for his crimes. Instead, he mopes about the heroine’s anger towards him, believing that he’s the one who killed her brother. All he does is just win the heroine’s love back again and have sex with her. Come on! I just can’t with this type of books that’s so Telenovela ish.
April 10, 2023
I thought it was a very predictable HR story with a 13 year old heroine, Isabella .. beautiful blond hair, who is made a ward of rugged handsome 25 year old hero, Warrick, and the King has told him he must marry her. Of course she doesn’t want to as she’s in love with Lionel, her brother’s friend. He eventually turns out to be one of the story’s villains. They do marry when she’s 14, lots of distrust ensues etc.
First half dragged along and then all of a sudden it turns into the final days of the Wars of the Roses. She nearly gets raped thru out the story, suffers rabies, her brother and his brother are killed in a battle, she miscarries, and they endure a two year separation near the end of the book. He ends it by raping her tho of course she’s overcome by love and they have their happily ever after. I’ve read many hundreds of historical romance books over 40 years, and dearly love a good bodice ripper. The isn’t one. Characters are flat, pacing slow for two thirds then rushed for last third. Way too many predictable events! Minor historical facts incorrect .., there were no decorated Christmas trees in the late 1400s and the Christmas Carol mentioned didn’t exist until the 1700s. Minor points but a bit jarring. I absolutely love the book, Love, Cherish Me by Rebecca Brandewyne and can’t fathom why it’s not available as an ebook and this one is.
First half dragged along and then all of a sudden it turns into the final days of the Wars of the Roses. She nearly gets raped thru out the story, suffers rabies, her brother and his brother are killed in a battle, she miscarries, and they endure a two year separation near the end of the book. He ends it by raping her tho of course she’s overcome by love and they have their happily ever after. I’ve read many hundreds of historical romance books over 40 years, and dearly love a good bodice ripper. The isn’t one. Characters are flat, pacing slow for two thirds then rushed for last third. Way too many predictable events! Minor historical facts incorrect .., there were no decorated Christmas trees in the late 1400s and the Christmas Carol mentioned didn’t exist until the 1700s. Minor points but a bit jarring. I absolutely love the book, Love, Cherish Me by Rebecca Brandewyne and can’t fathom why it’s not available as an ebook and this one is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2019
I've read Rose of Rapture so many times I've lost count and I've now owned three copies of the book and each time I've read it, I've been swept away through time back to noble knights and lecherous lords and lovely ladies; splendid kings and beautiful queens. I love the historical settings of medieval England, Scotland and Wales; I love that the hero and heroine, for all their strengths, are so flawed and human. Every time I open the cover and my eyes scan the title page, I can almost see the hero standing in the window, lighting a single candle to guide the heroine back to his loving arms.
Rose of Rapture tells the story of Lady Isabella Ashley, later Lady Isabella Tremayne, Countess of Hawkhurst and those she loved so well and who loved her just as fiercely as the hawk whose badge her Lord husband wears.
Rose of Rapture tells the story of Lady Isabella Ashley, later Lady Isabella Tremayne, Countess of Hawkhurst and those she loved so well and who loved her just as fiercely as the hawk whose badge her Lord husband wears.
December 29, 2022
The absolute flaming ick I got when I realized Isabella was going to be wed and bed on page at FOURTEEN and the author is treating her like an adult woman. Yes a noble heiress without parents probably could have been married off to a 26 year old at that age but he wouldn’t be touching her at all!!! Rebecca you are demonizing Maggie Beaufort who had a baby at 13 and everyone thought her husband was evil for it, meanwhile doing this to your heroine!!! Being a bodice ripper isn’t an excuse at all– she’s writing a teenager in sexual situations and it’s fucking weird.
June 4, 2022
Historical fiction regarding the time of the War of the Roses. RB always writes great romantic scenes. This one had a lot of bloody death scenes and great sadness, but still love wins in the end. Excellent story!
May 6, 2020
I won't say much about this book but it's one of my best historical novels... the twist and turn, how they grow into each other.❤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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April 4, 2021Wonderful book
July 24, 2024
interesting characters but very open door
April 20, 2008
During the time of Richard III a romance of the old school. Lady Isabella Ashley, an orphan protected by King Richard III, becomes caught up in deadly political intrigues during the War of the Roses.
December 29, 2022
A historical romance was full of tragedy during the end of the War of Roses era.
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